Record bio-beads for Strandliners

You will no doubt have read about the shocking water pollution event off the East Sussex coast in November where millions of toxic bio-beads used in water treatment were accidentally released into the sea and have been washing up on Camber Sands and other locations, with catastrophic implications for birds and marine life.

Lewes Climate Hub partner group Strandliners first alerted authorities to the pollution and led the initial response. As the clean-up continues here’s how Strandliners says you can help.

• On-site at Camber Sands, all volunteers should report to Camber central car park at 10am for a morning briefing seven days a week until further notice. Rother District Council are coordinating.
• If you see bio-beads that are freshly washed up please on any beach or coastal stretch call the Environment Agency on 0800 807060 – quoting reference 2440833
• If you find a dead cetacean (whale, dolphin or porpoise) or a dead seal, please report it to CSIP on 0800 652 0333 and send a record to .
• If you find a dead bird, please report it to Defra on 03459 335577 and send a record to .

Please do not touch any dead wildlife, wear gloves and protective wear if clearing up bio-beads – and supervise children carefully as bio-beads are toxic.

Finally, a huge thank-you to Strandliners’ director Andy Dinsdale and all his team for responding so speedily when they first detected this shocking pollution.